Using Freedom of Information Requests in Socio-Legal Studies, Criminal Justice Studies, and Criminology

• Published date: 26 August 2019
• Date: 26 August 2019
• Pages: 33-46
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/S1521-613620190000024005
• Author: Kevin Walby,Alex Luscombe

33

CHAPTER 2

USING FREEDOM OF

INFORMATION REQUESTS

IN SOCIO-LEGAL STUDIES,

CRIMINAL JUSTICE STUDIES,

AND CRIMINOLOGY

Kevin Walby and Alex Luscombe

ABSTRACT

Purpose – The chapter explores the use of freedom of information (ATI/FOI)

requests in social science research, with specic focus on using ATI/FOI

requests in socio-legal studies, criminal justice studies, and criminology.

Methodology/approach – ATI/FOI requests constitute a novel method of data

collection that has methodological and also epistemological implications for

researchers.

Findings – The chapter explains how to use ATI/FOI requests in social science

as well as how to navigate challenges and barriers ATI/FOI users regularly face.

Originality/value – There is a paucity of writings on use of ATI/FOI requests

in socio-legal studies, criminal justice studies, and criminology. The chapter

reveals the value of using ATI/FOI in social science and the originality of the

data that ATI/FOI requests can result in.

Keywords: Freedom of information; qualitative methods; access; methods;

methodology; law

Methods of Criminology and Criminal Justice Research

Sociology of Crime, Law and Deviance, Volume 24, 33–46

Copyright © 2019 by Emerald Publishing Limited

All rights of reproduction in any form reserved

ISSN: 1521-6136/doi:10.1108/S1521-613620190000024005